Thursday, 9 July 2015

'If wet in Village Hall' - the Great British Summer Fete

The
Summer Fete/Flower Festival season is in full swing.

It's
just a pity that the weather doesn't always play ball with the array of outdoor
events planned for what should be a glorious English Summer (yes, I'm aware
we've had a mini heatwave, but sadly it won't last!)

All
too often whilst driving through our corner of Northamptonshire I see a sign
advertising the village fete, accompanied by another one stating 'if wet in
Village Hall'.

I
think that should become our motto - that sign carries with it a sense that we
resign ourselves to the fact that the fate of our summer outings relies upon
the weather, and we just adapt and carry on regardless.

We
went to the Harringworth Fete the other weekend.It was dry when we set off, but upon arrival
- you've guessed it - the heavens opened and it rained quite heavily.

Fortunately,
one of the lovely ladies organising it lent us an umbrella, so we remained dry
as we perused the stalls, had tea and cake and listened to the Gretton Silver
Band playing Singing In the Rain, appropriately enough, amongst other tunes.

I
even managed to win a bottle of gin on the bottle raffle, and I thought our run
of bad luck on the tombola had changed when my daughter managed to produce a
ticket ending in a five.

However
she did look a little crestfallen when she was presented with a tin of
Essential Waitrose borlotti beans.Still, a win's a win and they're now sitting in my pantry while I decide
into which recipe they'll be incorporated.

There
was a coconut shy, face painting, and a 'treasure hunt' where you had toguess where a £50 note was buried - never
have I stared at a patch of grass for so long trying to see the slightest
disturbance!

The
viaduct looked its usual magnificent self, even in the rain, and I did think to
myself how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the county.